Show-box cover



E. W. ALBEE. Show Box Cover.

No. 229,654. Patented July 6,1880.

.fnven/ 60 r.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN W. ALBEE, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

SHOW-BOX COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,654, dated July 6,18 0.

Application filed November 6, 1879. 3

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN W. ALBEE, ofDubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Removable Covers for Boxes; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

The object I have in view is to produce a removable transparent coverfor boxes which can be easily and quickly attached to the open top of abox to'display the goods contained in the same, and can be readilydetached when the box is empty and secured to a full box, and at thesame time will be neat and compact in appearance, the cover beingconstructed in such a manner that it is simple and cheap to manufactureand adapted to fit boxes differing somewhat in size, and being securedby devices which are not dependent upon any particular construction ofthe box or upon its size, and can be attached conveniently and firmly toany box.

It is intended to do away with the special show-boxes or cases now usedfor displaying crackers, cakes, dried fruits, and other edible articlesof. sale, and to attach directly to the boxes in which the goods areoriginally packed and shipped, after their tops are removed, my improvedremovable covers, which protect the articles from dirt and flies, andalso from the dampness of the air, and can be transferred to other boxeswhen the first are empty.

My invention therein consists in the peculiar construction of the coverand the means for removably attaching it to the open top of a box, asfully hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a-box with my coverattached; Fig. 2, a top view, with the cover thrown open, of one end ofthe box and a part of the cover; Fig. 3, a sectional view, on a largerscale, through one of the screws which holds the cover to the box; andFig. 4 is a side elevation, on a smaller scale, of the box, the cover,and a pivoted prop for holding the cover open.

Like letters denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the frame of the cover, made quite wide, so as to fit boxes varyingsomewhat in size, and having the transparent glass center B. This frameis hinged at one end to the outer edge of a securing-piece, O.

The securing-piece is a straight piece of wood, and is attached to theend of the box by eye-screws D, which turn in recesses c in thesecuring-piece, so as to allow the cover to be thrown back upon suchpiece. These eyescrews are sharp-pointed, so that it is not nee essaryto bore holes in the box for their reception; but they can be turnedinto the box with the thumb and finger, or by putting a nail or othersmall article through the eyes of the screws.

The cover is intended to project a little beyond the sides of the box,so that it can be readily opened.

It is evident that the securing-piece could be hinged to the side of thecover-frame instead of to the end, and that the cover and securing-piececould be made of different shape from that shown, to fit boxes of othershapes or barrels.

It will be seen that the principal advantages of my cover lie in itsextreme simplicity and cheapness, the convenience with which it can beattached and removed from a box without requiring any specialconstruction of the box, and the firmness with which it is held.

I am aware that it is not original with me to provide removabletransparent covers for boxes.

When the cracker-box is placed so that its cover cannot be thrown openagainst the wall or some other support it is desirable to provide asimple device for supporting the cover. For this purpose I use apropping wire or rod, E, (shown in Fig. 4,) which I secure by a screw tothe frame of the cover so that it will be pivoted thereto. This prop hasa forked end with sharpened points, which rest on the floor when thecover is lifted up, or. the prop may be secured to the cover so that itsforked end will catch on the edge of the box, or the prop may be securedto the box and engage with the frame of the cover, as may be desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The removable box-cover A B, extending This specification signed andwitnessed this 9th day of August, 1879.

EDWIN W. ALBEE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM GRAHAM, MONROE M. CADY.

